There have been several good articles this week on the Roar that when boiled down to their most basic level, call the Wallabies soft little girls pretending to play rugby. I couldn’t agree more.
While blogging last weekend’s match against the Springboks for the Roar there was more than one occasion when I wanted to turn off the television and walk away in disgust.
Spiro Zavos likened the contrast between the Springboks and the Wallabies to men against boys, while Colin Kennedy talked about the importance of power in the engine room of the scrum (the second row).
In the last three matches the Wallabies have been dismantled at scrum time and smashed off the ball at the breakdown for all the same reasons – they are not strong enough, not fast enough, not fit enough and not mean enough.
The forwards have poor technique both in the scrum and over the ball in the breakdown (the backs are guilty of this too but I’m ignoring them), do not get low enough and do not have the power to withstand their opponents.
They don’t have the strength to hold strong in the face of the opposition pack’s push or cleanout and then counter with a shove of their own.
So the question for the Wallabies is a simple one – where are they going to find the power? How do they get some mongrel back in the pack?
Up front the question has to be boiled down to its most basic question, which props are the strongest and can be taught (not taught) the correct technique.
The answer is simple – Scott Sio and Albert Anae are by far and away the strongest front rowers.
I have observed both in Super Rugby lose a scrum hit at loosehead, keep their shape and push back to dominate their opposite.
Can either play tighthead prop at international level? I think it is time to find out.
Both Andrew Blades and Ewen McKenzie are World Cup winning tighthead props, if they can’t teach the required technique and sort the situation out for the Wallabies then it can’t be done, or they are incompetent.
Until Dan Palmer returns injury-free to these shores, tighthead prop will be a problem for Australia. Right now though, neither Ben Alexander or Sekope Kepu seems to be coping well there, it is time to try James Slipper off the bench at tighthead and bring back Benn Robinson off the bench as a replacement loosehead behind the stronger, yet less experienced props.
Hookers primarily need to be able to hook and throw a lineout now. I rate James Hanson from the Reds and I would bring him in to the bench role. Stephen Moore has looked ineffective but I remain uncertain of who can replace him.
Tatafu Polota-Nau when he is fit must surely be a chance to come back to the starting side for the simple reason he is the strongest scrummaging hooker Australia has.
Having not spent a lot of time observing locks’ body position in scrums in recent years, I cannot say for certain who is the strongest of them, however I would be calling them in and putting them through a power and technique test and simply picking the best.
My hunch is that James Horwill, Cadeyrn Neville and Sitaleki Timani would be the top three. I would also continue to work with Hugh Pyle and Rob Simmons to improve their strength and power because their lineout presence is important, but first the Wallabies have to stop the bleeding.
The first choice backrow is all injured but when they come back they need to be taught to push at scrum time and not meerkat, as the support of the loose trio is now essential to stabilising the scrum.
Scott Higginbotham, David Pocock and Wycliff Palu all offer more power, more speed, better support play and more presence at the breakdown than the current Wallaby loose forwards.
When they are all back it will be a very good time to blood a big young backrower off the bench like Lachie McCaffrey or Curtis Browning or even the returning Tala Gray (they are all 190cm and 108kgs and young enough to bulk up some more).
Until they are fit we are going to have to accept a disadvantage.
Fotu Aeulua might have been an option to add some power but it is my understanding he has had an operation recently so is not fit either.
For now Michael Hooper and Liam Gill will have to do at no.7 (and Gill’s greater workrate at ruck time must surely see him start), while Ben Mowen, Scott Fardy, Dave Dennis, and Ben McCalman will have to cover no.6 and no.8.
None of these players has the presence to really make an impact at international level but if they are told to put their heads down and run non-stop all match supporting the ball carrier and hitting rucks then they may just hold parity with the opposition.
I know some comments will be critical of the fact I am shuffling deck chairs; but the fact is the Australian forwards situation is that desperate right now something must be tried.
The Wallabies cannot claim to be a top international rugby side if they cannot hold a stable scrum, and the key to doing that is going to be coupling strong forwards with good technique.
Right now we’re coupling soft forwards with crappy technique and getting hammered.
Geoff Chapman
Guest
There are some fairly simple problems with our game that could be easily rectified and at least keep the scores close. Assuming of course that our players know the Rules and don't give away idiotic penalties. I will list a few. 1.Teach the half back to pass off the ground a la Catchpole,Hipwell, Connors to name a few. Gregan started "picking it up " and passing and all the others are following suit in Australia. Genia has the same problem. They ..pick the ball " up " to pass ..have to "wind up" to pass it, particularly to the right. ..they look after they pick it up as to where they are going to pass it, instead of knowing before hand--- might be waiting for the 5/8 to send them a mobile phone call! ..sometimes they leave the ball in the base of the ruck for a while, " till the Defence manages to get organised ! Talk about slaughtering your inside backs. Imagine what an extra 1/2 second could do for them----they're not playing Club football. 2. No.8's should push in scrums .they weren't picked as half backs, so they should stop picking up the ball from scrums, and they should obstruct the other half coming around the scrum. The other 7 blokes have their ring hanging out pushing against 8 of the opposition, and if you push in those scrums, you won't be out running around like a back, but toiling hard in the forwards like the rest of them. More especially in these days of monster packs. I believe it is the main reason we have an unstable scrum . The other 7 also become exhausted quicker, and the opposition run over you in the last quarter, because you're exhausted. Not as obvious these days with so many replacements, but the same principle applies. 3.wingers should learn to centre kick when they have no where to go. Of course his own team should know that it's on so they can " farm" the centre of the field. 4. Box kicks from 1/2 backs should be high enough and deep enough, so that attacking players can get there at the same time as the ball.( provided that they know the Rules and aren't off side.) 5.the ball should never be thrown to the back of the line out while defending within 15 meters at least of your own try line--- for obvious reasons ( apparently not obvious to a lot of Coaches and Captains) 6. Kick offs should be deep to the open wing,( and it doesn't matter who knows).the opposition, in tests anyway, have no option but to boot it into touch, and we start the game with a line out with our throw in usually in the opposition half. 7. First man up tackles the player, the second man tackles the ball. 8. Test football--running in your own half is equivalent to suicide. Who cares if it's boring, you are after all playing to win, and in the final analysis, that's all anyone worries about, particularly the followers of the Team. The other factor of course, is if you kick the ball a lot, you have to chase it eg.Habana.
Red Kev
Guest
Believe what you like, it doesn't make it true.
wannabprop
Guest
I guess that's what Kepu meant when he said he's 'more flexible' ;)). All that movement (from Mowen) would seem to confirm desperation. I only watch live streaming of the games on computer (living in the US), so miss the replays. I assume Mowen is reinserting himself on the TH side? Anyway, I wondered if the new laws would reinforce good technique (as well as strength), and so it appears. It's a sad indictment of the state of scrummaging in this country. My knowledge of scrummaging is limited, but I have to wonder if Robinson was brought back in (and potentially exert some pressure on the opposition TH), that could help in stabilising our TH?
Rob G.
Guest
He'd be our best 7 since Ben mccalman
Rob G.
Guest
Good article RK. I'm surprised you even mention tahs names as potential selections. Particularly Palu who I believe you and your qld colleagues rubbished non-stop though out the lions series. Boy are we missing him now though. I don't agree with the comment regarding Mckenzie coaching scrummaging. Many sports have demonstrated that good players don't make great coaches. And to further this point in regards to Mckenzie's ability........al Baxter.
Mike
Guest
My impression is that they are more out of shape now than under the old interpretations. But its hard to tell. Mowen moves around at the back (he will actually pull out from between the two locks and reinsert himself between a lock and a flanker, after the put in!). And then you have Kepu at the front who keeps flailing his arm around looking for a bind from the call 'bind' right through to the end (I am not exaggerating; look at our scrum on the 20 minute mark - he initially binds on Bismark's arm, then grabs beast's elbow). Its quite odd.
wannabprop
Guest
Ha ha. I remember that saying... And it makes sense to me, even if it isn't quite as important, that it would at the very least provide more stability (and in turn allow others to perform their roles better). But what would I know, I was a back who only ended up as a flanker as I got older, slower, and sillier. (or wiser, faster, and smarter in forward's speak). Related to body positions, I notice that the Wallabies look to be scrummaging as if under the old rules (and desperately seeking the hit). They get all out of shape prior to the engage and practically jump into the (now minimal) hit in what looks like a pathetic attempt at ascendancy. They did this under the old rules too, and I don't recall seeing any of the better scrummaging teams employing the same 'technique' (and possibly none). Haven't seen it mentioned in any of the blogs previously. Do you know what I mean?
Mike
Guest
I'm not ignoring it. Rather, you seem to be making an assumption that our current pack lack that base level of brute strength, whereas I am not prepared to make that assumption until they correct their technique. To put it another way, the fact that they are being monstered in some of their scrums (not all) doesn't prove that they don't have the base level of strength, because it may actually be due to poor technique rather than lack of strength. We won't know until we correct the technique. That's not meant to be contentious, just expressing the different assumptions we are working on.
Magic sponge
Guest
Need more tahs the reds players are too soft . Deansy was proven right
Red Kev
Guest
You're ignoring the fact Mike that a certain base level of brute strength is going to be required to maintain technique under pressure.
Dsat24
Guest
Some people say the pigs are fine and that the backs can fly. I think they are telling porkies... More grunt less punt!
DR
Guest
Cool. am going tonight so will keep an eye on him.
DR
Guest
Size means nothing without the attitude to go with it. Not sure how they can be taught that Red Kev. you have either got it or not and i personally reckon your experienced players need to take responsibility for that in your pack. Plenty have played close to 50 plus tests. Its one thing to get beaten but another to do so timidly. In saying that i reckon Pococks return will be a massive boost particulaly in attitude. Something for the younger lads to emulate. Any thoughts of Slipper at TH with Sio at LH?
DR
Guest
Chan Wee
Guest
nice :) but what matters is how big he is between the ears. same goes to Timani & Dennis. The reason Eben E is thought of highly and expected to be the best 2nd row in the world is becoz of his sense. maybe he is a hot head but then tell me any Bok 2nd row who was not !
Mike
Guest
wannab, Scott Allen knows far more about scrummaging than I ever will. FWIW, I agree with his emphasis on middle row, although I didn't think he was saying the other positions weren't important. I just look at the side shots of the scrum last Saturday and compare Mowen's body position to Vermeulen's. The latter is adding real power to the scrum and that must affect not only the effectiveness of those in front of him, but also their exhaustion levels. Plus, simply by locking in that position he is helping to bring those two second rowers together. As they used to say in league: "In what other sport do you see one bloke ram two other blokes heads up three other bloke's a**es?" I reckon that puts the proper emphasis on what the No 8 does!
RugbyRene
Roar Rookie
What about big Wil Skelton? You want size and power how does 203cm and 135kg and only 21 sound? Yes he is a bit raw but with proper guidance and some gym time to bulk up he could be an answer to the big locks of the Boks and ABs.
Sage
Guest
Blue moon anticipated tonight as I nod in agreement with Mike. Start with technique absolutely. Like so many things in sport, it's how the power is delivered through technique. We have enough of that I think, just really ordinary technique and not just at scrum time. Why on earth Laurie Fisher isn't already in there and all over this surprises me. If you haven't already LInk, his should be the next number you call. RK you're sounding a bit KPM-ish although I appreciate the point you're making and I agree up to a point. I'm certainly with you on James Hanson and would love to see him get a chance at the moment. A huge motor, good line out brain, rakes well, fearless and a great link and support runner which we need desperately at the moment. The challenges in the forwards aren't insurmountable and we need to stick mostly to what we have and just focus on technique, fitness and more than anything else, attitude. I remember well, a bit of parity at scrum time does wonders for a piggies self esteem and confidence. As Mike says, if we don't address the issues, changing the cattle will make no difference.
atlas
Guest
too young front rowers? add another couple of youngsters in the front row with Mealamu 23 Nov 2002 ABs v Wales, 21yr old Tony Woodcock (also on debut) and 22 yr old Carl Hayman They worked out ok
wannabprop
Guest
Mike. Agree with much of what you say here, especially regarding the coaching, but if the the Roar's resident (and actual) expert, Scott Allen, is to be believed, the No8 has less to do with scrum effectiveness, and more about the 'middle row', i.e. locks and flankers...